{"id":4589,"date":"2025-10-10T07:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T01:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/?p=4589"},"modified":"2025-10-10T07:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T01:51:10","slug":"what-start-pxe-over-ipv4-means-and-how-to-fix-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/what-start-pxe-over-ipv4-means-and-how-to-fix-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Start PXE Over IPv4 Means and How to Fix It"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you turn on your computer and see the message \u201cStart PXE over IPv4\u201d<\/strong>, it usually means your system is trying to boot from a network instead of your hard drive. This happens when your PC can\u2019t find a working operating system (OS) on the usual drive, so it looks for one over the network using a feature called PXE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It sounds complicated, but don\u2019t worry \u2014 this issue is quite common and easy to fix. Let\u2019s start by understanding what PXE is and why this message appears.<\/p>\n

What Is PXE?<\/h2>\n

PXE (Preboot Execution Environment)<\/strong> is a feature that allows a computer to start up or install an operating system through a network connection instead of from a hard drive, USB stick, or DVD.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s mainly used in businesses and IT environments to install or repair systems quickly over a local network. Instead of plugging in a drive to every computer, admins can deploy an OS remotely to many machines at once.<\/p>\n

In most home computers, PXE isn\u2019t something you\u2019ll ever need. But if your PC can\u2019t find a local boot device (like your SSD or HDD), it may automatically try PXE as a backup method \u2014 that\u2019s when the \u201cStart PXE over IPv4\u201d<\/strong> message appears.<\/p>\n

Why This Error Appears<\/h2>\n

Your computer\u2019s BIOS or UEFI firmware controls how it starts up. If it can\u2019t find a bootable operating system, it\u2019ll move down the boot list \u2014 and eventually try PXE.<\/p>\n

Common reasons include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The system drive (SSD\/HDD) isn\u2019t detected or has failed.<\/li>\n
  • The boot order<\/strong> in BIOS is incorrect.<\/li>\n
  • Secure Boot<\/strong> or Legacy Boot<\/strong> settings are conflicting.<\/li>\n
  • The Wake-on-LAN<\/strong> feature is interfering.<\/li>\n
  • A BIOS glitch or outdated firmware.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How to Fix \u201cStart PXE Over IPv4\u201d<\/h2>\n

    Here are several easy methods to fix the problem. Try them one by one.<\/p>\n

    1. Change the Boot Order<\/h3>\n

    Your BIOS decides which device to check first when starting the system. If the network boot (PXE) is at the top, your PC will try to boot from the network instead of your hard drive.<\/p>\n

    Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Restart your PC and repeatedly press the BIOS key \u2014 usually F1<\/strong>, F2<\/strong>, Del<\/strong>, or Esc<\/strong> \u2014 before Windows starts.<\/li>\n
    2. Go to the Boot<\/strong> or Startup<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n
    3. You\u2019ll see a list of devices (HDD, SSD, USB, Network, etc.).<\/li>\n
    4. Move your hard drive (SSD\/HDD) to the top of the list using the arrow keys.<\/li>\n
    5. Press F10<\/strong> to save and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Your PC should now boot from the correct drive.<\/p>\n

      2. Disable Secure Boot and Legacy Support<\/h3>\n

      Secure Boot is a safety feature that only allows verified software to load during startup. Sometimes, it can block normal boot processes. Legacy Boot, on the other hand, is used for older drives and may cause conflicts with modern systems.<\/p>\n

      Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Enter BIOS<\/strong> again.<\/li>\n
      2. Open the Security<\/strong> or Boot<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n
      3. Find Secure Boot<\/strong> and set it to Disabled<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      4. Find Legacy Support<\/strong> or Legacy Mode<\/strong> and disable that as well.<\/li>\n
      5. Save and exit BIOS (usually F10<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        This ensures your system boots cleanly using the right mode.<\/p>\n

        3. Disable Wake-on-LAN<\/h3>\n

        Wake-on-LAN<\/strong> is a feature that lets other devices turn your computer on through the network. It can sometimes confuse the system during boot.<\/p>\n

        Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Enter BIOS and open the Power<\/strong> or Advanced<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n
        2. Find the Wake-on-LAN<\/strong> option.<\/li>\n
        3. Set it to Disabled<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        4. Save and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Reboot and see if the PXE message disappears.<\/p>\n

          4. Reset BIOS to Default Settings<\/h3>\n

          If the issue started recently, your BIOS configuration might have changed accidentally. Resetting it to default often fixes boot issues.<\/p>\n

          Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Go to BIOS.<\/li>\n
          2. Look for an option like Load Setup Defaults<\/strong>, Restore Defaults<\/strong>, or Reset to Factory Settings<\/strong> (usually under the Exit<\/strong> tab).<\/li>\n
          3. Select it, confirm, then save and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Your system will restart with default BIOS settings, which usually restores normal boot behavior.<\/p>\n

            5. Update the BIOS<\/h3>\n

            If none of the above methods work, your BIOS firmware might be outdated or corrupted. Updating it can solve deeper compatibility problems \u2014 but proceed carefully.<\/p>\n

            Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Boot into Windows (if possible) and search for System Information<\/strong> (msinfo<\/code> in the search bar).<\/li>\n
            2. Note the BIOS Version\/Date<\/strong> and your motherboard model<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
            3. Go to your computer or motherboard manufacturer\u2019s official website.<\/li>\n
            4. Download the latest BIOS update for your model.<\/li>\n
            5. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions to install it \u2014 usually by placing the update file on a USB drive and applying it through BIOS.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Important:<\/strong> Don\u2019t turn off your computer during the BIOS update. If the power goes out or the process is interrupted, your system might fail to boot.<\/p>\n

              When to Worry<\/h2>\n

              The \u201cStart PXE over IPv4\u201d message by itself doesn\u2019t mean your computer is broken \u2014 it just can\u2019t find the proper boot device. But if your hard drive or SSD doesn\u2019t show up in BIOS, that might point to a hardware issue. Check the drive\u2019s cable connections or test it on another PC.<\/p>\n

              Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
              Cause<\/th>\nFix<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
              Boot order incorrect<\/td>\nMove HDD\/SSD to top in BIOS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Secure Boot or Legacy Boot conflict<\/td>\nDisable both in BIOS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Wake-on-LAN interference<\/td>\nTurn it off<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              BIOS settings messed up<\/td>\nReset to defaults<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Firmware issue<\/td>\nUpdate BIOS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

              Conclusion<\/h2>\n

              PXE is a powerful tool for IT professionals, but for everyday users, it\u2019s usually just a sign that the computer can\u2019t find Windows on the hard drive.<\/p>\n

              Luckily, fixing it doesn\u2019t take long. Adjust your BIOS boot order, disable network boot options, and make sure your drive is detected. With these quick steps, your PC should start up normally again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              When you turn on your computer and see the message \u201cStart PXE over IPv4\u201d, it usually means your system is trying to boot from…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4589"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4591,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4589\/revisions\/4591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toolswift.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}